A new Aldi supermarket and a significantly expanded Marks & Spencer Foodhall are set to transform Kew Retail Parkin South West London, following planning approval granted on 21 January 2026. The redevelopment will see Aldi replace the existing Sports Direct unit just off Mortlake Road, while the M&S Foodhall will almost triple in size. An official opening date has not yet been announced, reports the The WP Times editorial team.
Planning permission for both schemes was approved by Richmond Council’s planning committee on 21 January 2026, clearing the way for construction works to begin. While an exact opening date has not yet been confirmed, both Aldi and the expanded M&S Foodhall are expected to open later in 2026, subject to final build schedules and fit-out timelines.
The new Aldi store is expected to create around 40 local jobs, bringing a discount supermarket offer to this part of the borough for the first time. According to planning documents, the project focuses on reusing the existing building rather than expanding the retail park’s footprint, aligning with local planning priorities. At the same time, the M&S Foodhall at Kew Retail Park will increase from 743 square metres to 1,876 square metres, creating approximately 30 additional jobs. The store will be reorganised internally to accommodate the expansion while remaining within its current structure. Once complete, the Foodhall will offer the full M&S food range, including gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian lines.
Shoppers can also expect signature M&S features such as the “cheese barge”, fresh produce sourced from M&S farms, and dedicated wine and flower sections. The expansion forms part of M&S’s multi-year property transformation programme, which is upgrading key food stores across the UK to a “bigger and better” format.
Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Penny Moss from Avison Young said the Aldi development would provide “healthy and affordable food for the local community” while boosting local employment. M&S town planning manager Leo Scarfe told councillors the enhanced Foodhall would deliver a “best-in-class food offer in Kew and the wider area”, increasing the total number of jobs at the store to around 180. M&S also confirmed that further investment is planned for its Richmond town centre store, with recent modernisation works already completed at nearby locations such as Teddington. Together, the changes at Kew Retail Park are expected to strengthen the area’s retail offer and attract increased footfall once the new stores open.
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